Koei's obviously performed emergency surgery on the AI routines, because everyone's a thousand times smarter now.

Even without the board, though, I'd recommend Shaun White's Wii adventure over his less impressive 360 and PS3 treks. It's a tighter, more polished experience that puts the focus on fun over the other entries' ambitious, but not always rewarding free-roaming gameplay.

A good, well-crafted action game, but it definitely shows its age. It’s also quite possibly the hardest SNES game ever made, which, by the way, makes it too hard.

Beat the Heat games are the best part of this speedster, cleverly mixing a variety of cool driving techniques with engrossing competition.

The Thing definitely provides, and the care the developers have taken to keep the tone similar to the film is icing on the cake.

Unfortunately, the game shows not only its age, but also the console’s age and its considerable weaknesses.

The latest Blitz for the Dreamcast is not a huge improvement over the last one, but there is enough here for true Blitz fans to pick up the sequel.

Phoenix Wright fans who loved the past games and want nothing more than another docket of crazy cases to tackle will no doubt love Apollo Justice. It's a solid distillation of the franchise formula and if you haven't yet had your fill, I wholly recommend the game, because you will no doubt enjoy it. But I personally couldn't get over how derivative the game felt.

The character dialogue is well-written, and its 30 levels make it a fairly lengthy platformer, so at its $1.99 price point it'd be a shame to pass it up.

A solid mix of visual flair, musical excellence, and story-driven gameplay.

While Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition is a complete and solid game, the types of updates and outright lack of change in the production (we couldn't even get a new theme song or stages?) might not make the casual fans impulsively buy this update. Even $15 is a bit steep for features you might not use, and the $40 retail disk isn't a terrific option when Super Street Fighter IV retails anywhere from $10 to $30, depending on where you're buying it from.

Arc I is too short; Arc II is rewarding but drags on a bit; and Arc III looks bland. The overall story, though, makes all three worth playing in the long run.

The only things holding this game back from true greatness are the jumpy camera and choppy controls.

Though it's not as scientifically challenging as Victorious Boxers, KK 2002 is still a vast improvement over the last one and a satisfyingly addictive slugfest for pro boxing fans.

In this captivating outing, 47 revisits the past while modernizing the nagging flaws of his previous games, making for his best trail of assassinations yet.

Last year’s installment still has a lot more replay value and there are plenty of noteworthy soccer alternatives for the GameCube that you can spend your money on.

An outstanding single-player game coupled with an innovative and addictive multiplayer mode makes Pandora Tomorrow one of the premier titles available today on any console. [Sept 2004, p.82]

An addictive and undeniably daring game that feels more urgent and less epic than most RPGs, and the battle system is masterful. But it’s nothing like previous Breath of Fire games, and the forced repetition might kill it for you.

Another great aspect of the game was its length: while there are only seven islands in total, there is a surprising amount of content that is unlocked. The graphics are also excellent as are the designs and layouts of the various levels.

Although the game is short, it manages to stay fresh thanks to the way new areas and moves are doled out.

I think the real conversation is whether or not it's the best baseball game of all time. In my opinion, it is the greatest video game simulation of America's past time ever.

If you absolutely love the game and plan on playing for a while longer, you'll want to spring for this just to make sure you don't miss out on the experience. But if you are a casual player, you can probably pass on it and just be happy with the maps that came with the game.

Still, Silent Hill Origins succeeds on so many levels that it will not disappoint fans of the series. [Dec 2007, p.128]

It's unique and memorable, and with two new enjoyable multiplayer modes, fans of puzzle games are sure to get their money's worth with Chime Super Deluxe. If you didn't catch the original Chime when it came out last year, be sure to check out this latest iteration. The definitive version is not to be missed.

The A.I. is much brighter, and the difficulty levels are scaled more smoothly. The controls could use a crisper auto-aim and more efficient item management, but otherwise handle great.

Music is absent from the game, but you probably won't notice that either with the sounds of revving engines, squealing tires, and flying trashcans filling your ears.

Sure, the chatter between characters is pretty hokey at times - and is that old guy a walking stick with a head? - but that doesn't overshadow that Culdcept is an interesting and unique game idea. It's worth a look to see if it will offer you a break from the routine.

The disturbing visual style and complex play mechanics may overcome any minor deficiencies to result in a game that is surprisingly engrossing. [June 2005, p.90]

Condemned is intense, but it's more of an elaborate tech demo or proof of concept than a truly fleshed-out game.

Keep in mind, unless you're really a devout fan of the series, much of what's contained in MGS: Digital Graphic Novel will probably confuse the heck out of you.

If you can get past the fact that it's all Porsche this time around, Porsche Unleashed is a classy game with a lot of depth at its core.

While it's an interesting idea, the abrupt changes in pace really kills the excitement level.

Thankfully, Capcom included a near-perfect arcade port of "Street Fighter III", a fighting game as unsung as it is flawless. [Oct 2004, p.82]

It's a fine game to play with Remote and Nunchuk, with some level segments changed to accommodate them, but at points you can really tell the game was intended for more tactile controls.

Although a full-fledged single player campaign would have been nice, Crash Commando still provides hours of gameplay at the bargain price of $10.

If you like cleverly designed puzzle games with a decent amount of strategic depth, this is absolutely worth it.

I'm stunned by the fact that this game is enjoyable.

Queen's Crown is a fun and soundly constructed adventure, even if it does little to push the genre forward. Still, its enjoyable combat and responsive controls make it one of the App Store's better action-RPG picks.

Someone once called basketball a thinking man's game. NCAA March Madness 06 certainly got that right.

Offers a great mix of easy accessibility, straightforward style, and pants-wetting excitement.

While Drakan II handles the tomb-raiding controls better than "Tomb Raider," what you’ll find in the game’s horrendously monotonous dungeons rivals watching paint dry in terms of excitement.

The actual gameplay of Gladius is innovative, but the execution is just as slow as the story telling.

By far, the best element in the game is the hilarious commentary.

Though the implementation of combat-enhancing Force abilities is a welcome addition to the sequel, overall the game lacks depth—mostly because by now we should expect more intricate enemy-A.I. routines.

Overall, though, if you’ve already conquered the PS2 version, you can safely skip right past this game.

With NHL 06, EA Sports is revisiting its roots to create a feature-stable game with both style and substance, and it all starts with the controls. Quite simply, they are the most responsive ever. [Oct 2005, p.102]

Best of all is the vicious melee attack, dealt out with a forearm blade. It's enough to make the Fett family green with envy.

LCS is probably as long as most other GTA games, and even without the multiplayer mode that was present on the PSP, this one is well worth the single Andrew Jackson.

Crimson Gem Saga is as classic as modern RPGs come, but it also stands to remind why this genre has been so steadfast throughout the life of gaming.

A great addition to the franchise, especially if you're willing to take the time to fiddle with the settings.

No two matches -- even between the same teams -- ever feel quite the same, and it's that element of surprise that just might, at least offline, make Pro Evolution my go-to soccer game this season.

When compared to past Tales games, Abyss has only really changed a handful of aspects. However, those changes are obvious upgrades and have made a huge difference in the overall gameplay experience.

A first-rate challenge for anyone with a mind for military strategy.

Thanks to the added dimension brought by the new powers and the slimmed down presentation, Sonic Colors is a fine example of a modern platforming title as well as the best 3D Sonic to come out in many years. It is the less-heralded of the two Sonic games to be released this year, but it is the one most deserving of a purchase.

With NHL 06, EA Sports is revisiting its roots to create a feature-stable game with both style and substance, and it all starts with the controls. Quite simply, they are the most responsive ever. [Oct 2005, p.102]

A game that looks and sounds great, but sometimes feels more like work than play.

The missions themselves begin to feel repetitive and some can be overly challenging... Still, with over 25 levels and internet multiplay through Microsoft's Gaming Zone, StarLancer is a great space combat game.

Heavy Metal FAKK 2"will give you a good dose of fun while you're playing, although it is a bit short and there isn't any multiplayer to extend the game value.

The missions are bipolar: either incredibly easy or insanely difficult. Smithers is a boss for cryin' out loud!

Confusing level design, repetitive action, and the vile villain called slowdown eventually start to grate on the nerves. [Apr 2004, p.86]

Pokémon fans can't go wrong with Stadium 2. You can work out your home-grown Pokémon in N64 color, and the Transfer Pak enables you to play any Game Boy Pokémon game on a big screen.

Incredibly addictive.

Absolutely. Bangai-O is similar, but not quite like a typical arcade-style "bullet hell" shooter, since you have more effective ways of fighting back. So if that brand of insanity doesn't appeal to you, perhaps Bangai-O's will. Not to mention that it's better and cheaper than its DS predecessor.

While it makes the games a cakewalk for Mega Man veterans, it allows you to appreciate Zero 1-4 as pure action games. That the collection allows us to revisit the series free of its excesses makes it well worth your time.

Dissidia 012: Duodecim Final Fantasy is going to be a delicious, never-ending pit of treats for anyone who owns Advent Children, listens to the Black Mages on their iPods, or knows what Materia is. For anyone else, all I can recommend is giving the game a try if you're simply curious about seeing some awesome graphics and a unique battle system.

There's a list of other games that surpass Lunar in quality, style and substance. Even if you're a fan of the Sega CD version, you will find Lunar Silver Star Story Complete only worth a nostalgic rental spin..and nothing more.

If you aren't familiar with the Revelations series this is the perfect chance to jump into a deep, exciting new experience.

There's enough variation on the genre to keep things interesting, and the execution in terms of graphics and level design is top-notch. The simplified aiming system could be helpful for younger gamers or those looking for less of a challenge.

The game presentation is first rate, with hypnotic music and fantastic visuals.

Simply put, Dragon Ball: Origins is the most interesting Dragon Ball adventure that Atari's put on the table since the first Budokai title.

Plenty of modes and surprisingly funny writing make this a weirdly enjoyable piece of unexpected "edutainment."

If you're looking for a laid back alternative to the typical XBLA fare, A Kingdom for Keflings is for you. It's a humorous, low-pressure/high reward strategy game that gives your brand new Xbox avatar something fun to do.

A solid title that gets kudos for strong action and replay value. Giant-robot fans will want it -- others should, at the very least, rent it

Pat Summerall does a good job with the play calling and the color commentary from Madden himself is amusing at times but quickly becomes repetitive.

A great game in an awful—or is it just nostalgic?—package; a title that would be considered a classic if it had been released, oh, seven years ago today.

Tracks are short, plus the extra game modes don’t do the game any justice.

There's no denying that Devil Survivor Overclocked is a fantastic strategy/RPG. If you somehow missed this one when it initially released, then this is an easy recommendation.

It's a good all-around package, but I expect that it will sneak under the radar now that the fall release season is in full swing. It's a shame because the single-player is every bit the addictive sugar rush that Modern Warfare is, and it's handsomely produced to boot. It's the perfect palate cleanser for a game like Dark Souls, which is the diametric opposite in terms of mood and gameplay. After being lost in a dungeon for hours on end, sometimes you just want to jump into a jet fighter and blow stuff up for a while. And in that regard, Ace Combat fits the bill perfectly.

Though I was ultimately somewhat disappointed by the flawed and fundamentally repetitive nature of my time as a green recruit, Ghostbusters' tight online component renewed my long-term enthusiasm for slam-dunking slimers.

It's a little repetitive, but smooth controls and varied weapons make this pig's tale an addictive game of revenge.

Tabula Rasa is a fun game, but frustrating enough that you are left with a feeling that the fun parts are mocking you from their inaccessible tower guarded by the lag monsters, poorly designed controls and the never ending kill-or-be-killed pacing.

It lays out more features, more gameplay, and more outrageousness than any other freaky football variation ever, and if it's not careful it might become as complex as a real football game.

The gameplay isn't going to challenge hardcore gamers as the enemies simply aren't that tough, but the presentation really shines. [May 2005, p.95]

Alien Hominids control scheme doesn't allow for players to fire diagonally. Also, the console version is intended for 2 players--single player games are frustratingly hard due to the cheap AI.

As a quality tennis title and an impressive showcase of Nintendo's new tech, EA's ambitious first effort easily takes the cup.

It's fun, it's simple and it's charming, which pretty much describes most Wii games that hit big with that audience

LucasArts has done a super job in bringing this game to life thanks to the outstanding story, tight controls, and the hefty amount of intense action, while also including a standard list of multiplayer modes and Xbox Live online support. That it won't win critical acclaim for being revolutionary is beside the point.

The transition from flying a plane to steering a four-wheeled armored truck to shooting a gun in first-person view is smooth, addicting, and, best of all, keeps the pace of the action consistent enough for you to be involved to the very end. [July 2002, p.74]

The animation is startlingly fluid—game replays are absolutely uncanny—and you’ll spot nice details like tires getting dirty when you leave the track.

An enjoyable action title that's easy to pick up and play. If you can get past the preachy narrative and dialogue, you'll be immersed in intense combat and cool weapons.

Overall, the fielding controls are just good enough for the “Bigs.” As with earlier ASBs, timing buttonpresses for defensive moves like diving to stop grounders or sliding to snare low line drivers to the outfield is more adventurous than it has to be.

A huge, fun monster-whacker that would hold up pretty well even without its Tolkien license—it is mini-Diablo, after all.

While all the aforementioned features make Iridion incredibly unoriginal, they also make the game finally worth playing for more than the visuals. [June 2003, p.99]

May not be as revolutionary as the original, but it's still a solid gaming experience and a good bridge between the gaming world and reality. [Dec 2004, p.132]

The gameplay is certainly realistic, but overall, the physics of how the ball moves feel a bit floaty at times. In the final analysis, ESPN MLB trails after "MVP Baseball" and "MLB 2005," making it a good choice for those who aren't satisfied with those league leaders. [Apr 2004, p.89]

It's not quite the flagship title you might expect for a Nintendo launch, but Luigi's Mansion is still a must-have.

Luckily, Treasure Seekers blows open the genre's doors for idiots like me with a fantastic hint system that requires a bar to fill up over time before you can use it to cheat your way to victory.

Everything from the 22 on-screen players to the stadium they're duking it out in looks great, and for the first time ever I felt like I wasn't playing a compromised or downgraded football experience despite the limitations of the iPhone platform.